Theft-proof wallet



June 23, 1959 H, VACA v 2,891,592

THEFT-PROOF WALLET Filed Nov. 15. 1954 2 vSheets--Sheet 1 Arme/vers. Y,

June 23, 1959 H. VACA 2,891,592

THEM- PROOF WALLET Filed Nov. 15. 1954 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.HuMEe 70 V4 cn ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent THEFT-PROOF WALLET Humberto Vaca, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 15, 1954, SerialNo. 468,789

12 Claims. (Cl. 150-47) This invention relates to wallets ofv the typecarried in garment pockets and has specialv `application to mensbillfolds.

Men' usually carry' their billfolds or wallets'in trouser hippockets orsuit coat pockets or the like'where they arey accessible for theft byypickpockets.y Wallets and billfoldsI are relatively flat: and smoothsurfaced and extractionfthereofy fromaI garment pocket is relativelyeasy for` a skilled pickpocket.

An object of this invention is to provide a wallet structure difficultfor anyone but the owner to extract from a garment pocket. Accordingtothe invention tine'means are provided on the wallet for catching a'garment pocket interior-to prevent removal of the wallet therefrom, thetine means being easily manipulable-by the owner to inoperative positionto facilitate removal-of the vwallet from the pocket; In the drawings:

Fig. l is a generally elevational- View of a billfold according to thisinvention in unfolded condition with the tines in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary generally elevational view of the Wallet showingthe tines in inoperative position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary generally elevational view illustrating amodilied form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4 showing another modification of theinvention. K

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 4 showing lathird modified form of theinvention.

The wallet shown in the drawings has an outer wall 10, an inner wall 11and intermediate walls such as those shown at 12 and 13 folded andsecured in laminar relation to each other to forman elongate pocket forreceivingV bills or currency whose opening is indicated at 14V and toform other pockets for cards and the like whose openings are indicatedat 15, 16, 17 and 18; The walls are preferably made of a flexible'material such as leather or a thermo-plastic material and the wallet isfoldable at a central transverse portion generally indicated at 19.

A U-shaped spring'wire element 23v is secured by such means as stitching24 in a concealed position between the walls of the billfold with thelegs 25 of the U generally adjacent and parallel' to the edges of thebillfold and with the base ,portion 26 of the U generally" adjacent andparallel to one end. Each leg' 25 ofthe U terminates in a return bend 27disposed generally adjacent fold 19 and which continues in a tine 28biased angularly outwardly'from'the edges'29 and 30 of the billfold.Legs 25 have 'curviform' portions 31 lying in the plane of the U for apurpose to be described. The end portion of each' tine 28 i's preferablyformed into a loop V33 to provideI abluntcatch for engaging a garmentpocket interior and each loopv preferably has an attractively appearingcoverY 34 which may be' made of the same material as thewalls ofthebillfold.

Each-tinehas aprojection 35l formed therein and a wallsuch as wall.1-1`fortuin-gian innertsurface when-'the "ree billfold is in foldedcondition is slotted as at 36 for receiving projections 35; Slots 36are' preferably V- shaped as shown. Each tine also preferably has anoutward projection 37 forming a finger hold to facilitate shifting thetines to inoperative position;

In use, the billfold in` folded conditionlisinserted into a garmentpocket with fold' 19' extending downwardly or inwardly of theV pocketand with tines 28`projecting outwardly of the edges of the Wallet inoper-ativeposition as shown in Fig. 1. The" outwardly biased tinesengage the exible material of the garment pocket interior and provideresilient struts impeding or preventing extraction of the billfold.through the pocket opening by a pickpocket and preventingaccidentalloss. The'blunted and covered ends of theI tines engage the fabric offvthe pocket interior without cutting or tearing it. Tol remove thevbillfold from his pocket the owner merely squeezes the tines inwardlyadjacent edges 29 'and'30,` as by pressing on finger holds 37', and'withdraws the billfold in the usual manner. The curviformities 31 lessenthe tendency of legs 25 tobow inwardly when the tines are pressed towardeach other.

The wallet may' be unfolded; folded and' utilized in the normal mannerwithout interference: from thev tines andmay be-restored to the'ownerspocketv as described. Thetines may be secured in inoperative'positionadjacent the interfold surfaces of the wallet by distorting theminwardly and inserting projections 35 into slots or openings 36 in wall11. The tines return resiliently to operative position when projections35 are disengagedffrom openings 36.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modied form'ofl the invention similar to theprincipal fonn with like parts havingJ like reference characters. lnthis form tines 40 comprise the legs of a generally U-shaped spring Wireelement 41 whose'base is fashioned into two clip portions 42-and 43removably engaged over opposite edges of one of the walls of thebillfold such as edges 44 and. 45 of intermediate wall 13. Clips 42 andv43' are normally positioned adjacent central fold 19 andk grip wall 1-3vsufficiently tightly to remain in that position during Vnormal use. Theends 46 of tines 4@ are preferably looped and covered as in theprincipal form-of the. invention. The tines are shown in operativeposition in solid lines and one tine is shown in inoperative position indotted lines with a straight portion thereof yhooked under the ap formedby notch 36.'V Operation of this form of the invention is similar tothat of the principal: form.

The vmodified form of the invention shown in Fig;y 5 is similar to theprincipal form with like parts having like' reference characters. Inthis form tines 50 comprise the legs of a U-shaped spring element 51withfthe base portion 52 of the U permanently secured generally paralleland adjacent-to central fold 1-9 of the billfold by such means as astrip 53 stitched transversely on Wall .12. Base 52 of the springelement has a port- 5.4-v secured atly against wall 12 by strip 53 tofix the tines against rotation relatively to the walls. Tines 5l) mayhave projections 55 formed therein for engagement Vwith.slots 36 tosecure the tines in inoperative position and end portions 56 of thetines are preferably '-loopedand'covered asin the principal form.Operation of this formof theV invention is similar to that of theprincipal form.

Fig. 6 shows another modification of the invention similar to theprincipal form wherein like parts lare identified by like referencecharacters. This form liasa single tine 6i)V formed of a stifeningelement 61 andone end portion 62 of a spring wire element 63securedkwitliin ay covering element 64 such as by stitches 6:5. Theother end portion 66 of the wire element comprises a' pintle secured.rotatably in a concealed position betweenzthe `walls-,ofthe billfold-asyby-stitehing67. End portions '62 aangaan e9 and 66 of the wire elementare interconnected by a resilient portion 68 which may comprise aconvoluted portion of the spring and which lies generally adjacent thecentral fold 19 of the billfold.

Pintle 66 lies generally adjacent and parallel to an edge 29 of thebill-fold. Cover 64 preferably is made of the same material as the wallsof the billfold. Operation of this form of the invention is similar tothat of the principal form except that tine 6@ is shifted between itsoperative position shown in solid lines and its inoperative positionshown in dotted lines by rotation on pintle 66.

I claim:

l. A billfold comprising, means forming a plurality of walls, said wallsbeing disposed in generally laminar relation and defining a pocket, saidpocket being adapted to receive paper currency, said billfold having endportions and edges, said walls being flexible for folding at a generallycentral transverse portion, a spring wire element, said element having aU-snaped portion secured between two of said walls with the legs thereofadjacent said edges and the base thereof adjacent one of said endportions, said element having two tine portions, each tine portionhaving a proximal end connected to one leg of the U in a return bendgenerally adjacent said transverse portion of the walls and having adistal end` said tine portions being biased angularly outwardly from theedges of said walls so that said distal ends catch the interior of agarment pocket in which said billfold is adapted to be carried, thereby`impeding removal of the billfold therefrom, said tines beingresiliently distortable for shifting said distal ends to inoperativeposition adjacent said walls, and means releasably engageable with saidtines for holding the same in inoperative position.

2. A billfold comprising, means forming a plurality of walls, said wallsbeing disposed in generally laminar relation and defining a pocket, saidpocket being adapted to receive paper currency, said billfold having endportions and edges, said walls being flexible `for folding at agenerally central transverse portion, a spring wire element, saidelement having a U-shaped portion secured between two of said walls withthe legs thereof adjacent said edges and the base thereof adjacent oneof said end portions, said element having two tine portions, each tineportion having a proximal end connected to one leg of the U in a returnbend generally adjacent said transverse portion of the walls and havinga distal end, said tine portions being biased angularly outwardly fromthe edges of said walls so that said distal ends catch the interior of agarment pocket in which said billfold is adapted to be carried, therebyimpeding removal of the billfold therefrom, said tines being resilientlydistortable for shifting said distal ends to inoperative positionadjacent the sur- "face of a wall forming an inner surface of thebillfold when in folded condition, and means releasably engageable withsaid tines for holding the same in inoperative position.

3. A billfold comprising, means forming a plurality of walls, said wallsbeing disposed in generally laminar relation and defining a pocket, saidpocket being adapted to receive paper currency, said billfold having endportions and edges, said walls being exible for folding at a generallycentral transverse portion, a spring wire element, said element having aU-shaped portion secured between two of said walls with the legs thereofadjacent said edges and the base thereof adjacent one of said endportions, said element having two tine portions, each tine portionhaving a proximal end connected to one leg of the U in a return bendgenerally adjacent said transverse portion of the walls and having adistal end, said tine portions being biased angularly outwardly from theedges of said walls so that said distal ends catch the interior of agarment pocket in which said billfold is adapted to be carried, therebyimpeding removal of the billfold therefrom, said tines being resilientlydistortable for shifting said distal ends to inoperative positionadjacent the surface of a wall forming an inner surface of the billfoldwhen in folded condition, each tine having a lateral projection formedthereon, the last said Wall having slots therein, said projections beingengageable within said slots `for holding said tines in inoperativeposition, each tine having another lateral projection forming a fingerhold facilitating shifting thereof to said inoperative position.

4. A billfold adapted to be carried in a garment pocket comprising,means forming a plurality of adjacent walls, said walls defining apocket, said billfold having generally rectangular shape with ends andsides, a spring wire element having a generally straight centralportion, said straight central portion being secured on said meansgenerally parallel to said ends of said wallet, said spring wire elementhaving two tine portions, each tine portion having a proximal endgenerally adjacent said means and having a distal end, said tineportions being biased angularly outwardly from the edges of said sidesof the Wallet so that said distal ends catch the interior of a garmentpocket in which said billfold is adapted to be carried thereby impedingremoval of the billfold therefrom, said tines being resilientlydistortable -for shifting said distal ends to retracted positionadjacent said walls and means releasably engageable with said tines forholding the same in retracted position.

5. A wallet adapted to be carried in a garment pocket comprising, meansforming a plurality of adjacent walls, said walls defining a pocket,said wallet having generally rectangular shape with ends and sides, aspring wire element having a central portion, means securing saidcentral portion to one of said walls with said central portion extendinggenerally parallel to said ends of said wallet, said spring wire elementincluding two tine portions, each tine portion having a proximal endgenerally adjacent said means forming said walls and having a distalend, said tine portions being biased angularly outwardly from the edgesof said sides of the wallet so that said distal ends catch `the`interior of a garment pocket in which said wallet is adapted to becarried, thereby impeding removal of the wallet therefrom, said tinesbeing resiliently distortable for shifting said distal ends to retractedposition adjacent said walls, and releasable means operable to hold saidtines in said retracted position.

6. A wallet adapted to be carried in a garment pocket comprising, meansforming a plurality of adjacent walls, said walls defining a pocket,said wallet having generally rectangular shape with ends and sides, agenerally U- shaped spring wire element, means securing said spring wireelement to said wallet with the base of the U extending generallyparallel to an end of said wallet, said spring wire element including apair of tine portions at opposite sides of the U, each tine portionhaving a proximal end generally adjacent said means forming said wallsand having a distal end, said tine portions being biased angularly fromthe edges of said sides of the wallet so that said distal ends catch theinterior of a garment pocket in which said wallet is adapted to becarried, thereby impeding removal of the wallet therefrom, said tinesbeing resiliently distortable for shifting said distal ends to retractedposition adjacent said walls, and releasable means operable to hold saidtines in said retracted position.

7. A wallet adapted to be carried in a garment pocket comprising, meansforming a plurality of adjacent walls, said walls defining a pocket,said wallet having generally rectangular shape with ends and sides, saidwalls being exible for folding at a generally central portion along aline generally parallel to said ends, a spring wire element, said springwire element including tine means, said spring wire element having agenerally central portion, means securing said central portion of saidelement adjacent said means forming said walls with one end of said tinemeans generally adjacent said central portion of said wallet, said tinemeans projecting at an angle outwardly of an edge portion of said walletand at an angle away from said central portion of said wallet with theother end of said tine means being free of said walls for catching theinterior of a garment pocket and impeding removal of said Wallettherefrom, said tine means being free of external restraint between saidone end and said other end thereof when said other end projectsoutwardly of the wallet edge, said tine means being selectivelyshiftable so that said other end thereof can be moved to retractedposition adjacent said walls of said wallet so facilitate removalthereof from a garment pocket.

8. The wallet defined in claim 7 wherein said spring wire element has agenerally straight pintle portion extending away from said centralportion thereof, said means securing said central portion adjacent saidmeans forming said walls including means holding said pintle portionrotatably adjacent said walls with said pintle projecting at an angle tothe direction of extent of said tine means, so that said tine means canbe swung about the axis of said pintle portion to and from saidretracted position.

9. A wallet adapted to be carried in a garment pocket comprising, meansforming a plurality of adjacent Walls, said walls defining a pocket,said Wallet having generally rectangular shape with ends and sides, aspring wire element having a central portion, means securing saidcentral portion to one of said walls with said central portion extendinggenerally parallel to said ends of said wallet, said spring wire elementincluding two tine portions, each tine portion having a proximal endgenerally adjacent said means forming said walls and having a distalend, said tine portions being biased angularly outwardly from the edgesof said sides ofthe wallet so that said distal ends catch the interiorof a garment pocket in which said wallet is adapted to be carried,thereby impeding removal of the wallet therefrom, said tines beingresiliently distortable for shifting said distal ends to retractedposition adjacent said walls.

10. The wallet defined in claim 9 wherein said central portion of saidspring wire element is detachably secured by said securing means to aportion of said wallet which is generally centrally located between saidends of said wallet.

11. The wallet deiined inl claim 9 wherein said central portion of saidspring wire element is permanently secured by said securing means to aportion of said Wallet which is generally centrally located between saidends of said wallet.

12. The wallet dened in claim 9 wherein said central portion of saidspring wire element is formed with clips, said means securing saidcentral portion to said one Wall including said clips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,121,465 Brown Dec. 15, 1914 1,161,782 Macdonald Nov. 23, 19151,225,692 Willis May 8, 1917 1,404,278 Davis Jan. 24, 1922 1,423,539Palmer July 25, 1922 1,446,293 Gihnore Feb. 20, 1923 1,581,645 LaporteApr. 20, 1926 1,610,382 Jeiries Dec. 14, 1926 2,129,018 Martini Sept. 6,1938 2,312,100 Ketcik Feb. 23, 1943 2,437,566 Stonebraker Mar. 9, 1948FOREIGN PATENTS 352,224 Great Britain July 9, 1931

